LANDOVER, Md. — The Steelers broke training camp last week with a host of unanswered questions.

Among the most pressing is whether Rashard Mendenhall is ready to provide a spark to a running game that ranked just 23rd in the NFL last season.

And whether he is able to team with Willie Parker and give the Steelers their first legitimate 1-2 punch at running back since Jerome Bettis side-stepped his way into retirement.

"We know what Willie is," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said last week. "If Rashard proves to be a real (No. 2 back) we'll do it. If he doesn't, then he'll spell (Parker). We'll just see how that goes."

Parker and Mendenhall got all of the work at running back in the first half of Saturday night's preseason game against the Washington Redskins, and both experienced some success.

Parker scored the first touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run and finished with 13 yards on four carries. Mendenhall rushed for 26 yards on five carries at FedEx Field.

With two preseason games remaining and almost three weeks of practice before the start of the regular season, it is too early to tell how prominent of a role Mendenhall will play in the offense.

But he got rave reviews from running backs coach Kirby Wilson for his performance in the Steelers' preseason opener Aug. 13 following a film review of the game.

Parker said he has noticed a significant change in Mendenhall compared to last season when the latter was feeling his way through the NFL landscape before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in late September.

"He's more comfortable, he's more patient this year," Parker said. "He's got something on his mind this year. I see him in the weight room each and every day so he's ready for the season."

If the Steelers are hopeful that Mendenhall emerges this season, it is not just because they invested a first-round draft pick in 2008 on the former Illinois star. Parker broke down physically last season after averaging 329 carries in 2006-07, and lightening his workload could preserve the two-time Pro Bowl runner this season and beyond.

"History shows that if you get 300 carries for three or four years," Arians said, "your career ends quick."

That rationale helps explain the trend of teams using multiple backs to power their running game, something Tennessee has successfully done with Chris Johnson and LenDale White.

The challenge for offensive coordinators when there is a two-back rotation is making sure both players get enough work to keep them effective -- and happy.

"I hate taking them in and taking them out because they get out of the flow of the game," Arians said.

When asked if Parker would be happy splitting time at running back, Arians said, "I doubt it." But, he added, "it will help him in the long run."

Parker, who is entering the final year of his contract, said at the start of training camp that he would welcome yielding some of his carries. He didn't seem quite as receptive to the idea last week.

"It is what it is, and we'll leave it at that," Parker said.

Parker has been working on becoming a bigger part of the offense and most notably in the passing game.

Parker has spent extra time catching passes from Wilson during practices dating to the offseason. And the Steelers seem intent on getting him more involved in the passing game after he had just three receptions last season.

Parker had averaged 24 receptions a season from 2005-07.

"If you get him out in space," Arians said, "that's where he's at his best."

Mendenhall is also a receiving threat out of the backfield, and he may be better equipped to pound the ball between the tackles since the 5-10, 225-pounder is a little thicker than Parker.

"They say it's one of my positives — my inside running game, the reads and the instincts," Mendenhall said of the Steelers coaches.

Mendenhall gained just 24 yards on nine carries in the Steelers' first preseason game. But Wilson said Mendenhall made the correct reads and generally did what he could with limited running room.

Yards came a little easier last night for Mendenhall. Parker, meanwhile, reacquainted himself with the end zone.

Parker had just seven touchdowns the last two seasons combined, so the sixth-year veteran could be forgiven for getting a little excited after he followed Carey Davis around right end and scored easily at the end of the first quarter.

"I want to make that a habit," Parker said of scoring touchdowns. "I want to keep doing it, keep doing it, keep doing it so the coaches don't have any other goal-line set and I'll be the goal-line guy."

"History shows that if you get 300 carries for three or four years," Arians said, "your career ends quick."

The challenge for offensive coordinators when there is a two-back rotation is making sure both players get enough work to keep them effective -- and happy.

"I hate taking them in and taking them out because they get out of the flow of the game," Arians said.

When asked if Parker would be happy splitting time at running back, Arians said, "I doubt it." But, he added, "it will help him in the long run."

Parker, welcomes yielding some of his carries. He didn't seem quite as receptive to the idea last week. "It is what it is, and we'll leave it at that," Parker said.

Parker has been working on becoming a bigger part of the offense and most notably in the passing game. Steelers seem intent on getting Parker more involved in the passing game after he had just three receptions last season.

"If you get him out in space," Arians said, "that's where he's at his best."

"I want to make that a habit," Parker said of scoring touchdowns. "I want to keep doing it, keep doing it, keep doing it so the coaches don't have any other goal-line set and I'll be the goal-line guy."

These quotes sound like Parker wants to do everything... and

Arians doesnt know what to do with the other RB's and Fullbacks. Just play Parker..
and his side kick Mendenhall...

Hotrodder07

08-23-2009, 09:07 AM

Mendenhall still didn't do much to impress me. I guess he made the right reads, and hit the hole quick, but I haven't seen any great moves or broken tackles from him. He has 2 more games to impress.

ANDYMISIU

08-23-2009, 11:53 AM

Mendenhall still didn't do much to impress me. I guess he made the right reads, and hit the hole quick, but I haven't seen any great moves or broken tackles from him. He has 2 more games to impress.

He made a great spin move in the hole and then ran over a guy to pick up a 3rd and short last night. I think he looked pretty good. Been a while since a back averaged 5.2 yards per carry on the Steelers.

fansince'76

08-23-2009, 11:55 AM

These quotes sound like Parker wants to do everything... and

Arians doesnt know what to do with the other RB's and Fullbacks. Just play Parker..
and his side kick Mendenhall...

You really need to cut the crap already and stop hijacking EVERY thread with the "Arians sucks" BS. This thread has NOTHING to do with Arians.

HometownGal

08-23-2009, 06:06 PM

You really need to cut the crap already and stop hijacking EVERY thread with the "Arians sucks" BS. This thread has NOTHING to do with Arians.

A-fookin-MEN! :applaudit:

Dude really needs to use that woodie he has for Arians in a more "productive" fashion.

Steel Head

08-23-2009, 06:58 PM

"We know what Willie is," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said last week. "If Rashard proves to be a real (No. 2 back) we'll do it. If he doesn't, then he'll spell (Parker). We'll just see how that goes."

i don't get Arians quote

we'll do what?

isn't Mendenhall spelling Parker no matter what?

none of the 1-2 punches get exactly the same # of carries. Parker will get more carries than Mendenhall right?

Texasteel

08-23-2009, 07:05 PM

i don't get Arians quote

we'll do what?

isn't Mendenhall spelling Parker no matter what?

none of the 1-2 punches get exactly the same # of carries. Parker will get more carries than Mendenhall right?

It sounded pretty clear to me. If Mendenhall is for real he and Parker will be splitting carries, not Mendenhall spelling Parker.

Steel Head

08-23-2009, 07:57 PM

It sounded pretty clear to me. If Mendenhall is for real he and Parker will be splitting carries, not Mendenhall spelling Parker.

yeah but it's still called a "1-2 punch" for a reason. one guy is the starter and gets more carries (even if it's only a few)

I like Mendenhall but Parker is still the man imo

BehindSteelCurtain

08-23-2009, 09:39 PM

Mendy who?

Isaac Redman is better.:chuckle:

UltimateFootballNetwork

08-24-2009, 12:49 AM

You really need to cut the crap already and stop hijacking EVERY thread with the "Arians sucks" BS. This thread has NOTHING to do with Arians.
I'd like to agree with mmalone and Steel head. I think this has everything to do with Arians. His comments in this article are just bizarre.

"We know what Willie is," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said last week. "If Rashard proves to be a real (No. 2 back) we'll do it. If he doesn't, then he'll spell (Parker). We'll just see how that goes." Sorry, but I still do not understand this, even if I am interpreting it correctly.

As good as FWP has been over his career, he is not good enough that he doesn't have anything to prove at 29 and coming off an injury plagued, mostly ineffective year. Heck, Ladanian Tomlinson (29) is having to prove that he still has it or else lose carries to Darren Sproles and Clinton Portis (27) is losing carries to Ladell Betts and those guys are HOF RBs.

But the rest of the comments is where it gets weird.

"History shows that if you get 300 carries for three or four years," Arians said, "your career ends quick." OK, and FWP has averaged exactly 299.5 touches over the past 4 seasons so, logically, it would be wise to keep him fresh as possible....

Parker has spent extra time catching passes from Wilson during practices dating to the offseason. And the Steelers seem intent on getting him more involved in the passing game after he had just three receptions last season.

Parker had averaged 24 receptions a season from 2005-07.

"If you get him out in space," Arians said, "that's where he's at his best." So he's going to get more touches in the passing game?

FWP had 210 carries and 3 receptions in 08. So if they target him for 25-30 more receptions does that mean that they are reducing his number of carries by that amount? Even though his split depends on Mendenhall's development?
Parker had just seven touchdowns the last two seasons combined, so the sixth-year veteran could be forgiven for getting a little excited after he followed Carey Davis around right end and scored easily at the end of the first quarter.

"I want to make that a habit," Parker said of scoring touchdowns. "I want to keep doing it, keep doing it, keep doing it so the coaches don't have any other goal-line set and I'll be the goal-line guy." So he wants to take on goal line carries too? Does anyone really think short-yardage is really FWP's strength?

It looks like while Arians says he understands the need to reduce his workload, he's looking at getting him involved in the passing game and at the goal line too. Arians goes out of his way to indicate that he understands the problem of "overuse" for a RB and then goes on to provide quotes where he shows that he wants to increase Parker's role.

Arians seems to learn nothing and make no adjustments and I think the Steelers offense will continue to be a problem this season as a result.

X-Terminator

08-24-2009, 01:14 AM

Yeah, thank you very much, Mr. Tool, for encouraging the broken record that is mmalone. Now we have yet ANOTHER Arians bashing thread on our hands.

Preacher

08-24-2009, 02:39 AM

Yeah, thank you very much, Mr. Tool, for encouraging the broken record that is mmalone. Now we have yet ANOTHER Arians bashing thread on our hands.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

revefsreleets

08-24-2009, 11:07 AM

Ignore feature: Use it!

mmalone knows VERY little about football, so why bother even reading what he says?
UFN has smashed any credibility with his insane Melwelde Moore pimping.

As for Arians comment, it was crystal clear: They will either be a 1-2 punch (and maybe share the backfield as they did in the Skins game) OR Mendy will be used in much the same fashion that Moore was last year, simply the first guy off the bench if Willie needs a break.

Moore gets the looks in long downs/3rd downs/passing situations and the like.

fansince'76

08-24-2009, 11:13 AM

Arians seems to learn nothing and make no adjustments and I think the Steelers offense will continue to be a problem this season as a result.

Well, considering that you spent the majority of last season predicting that Willie would cost us a playoff berth, and then a Super Bowl berth, and finally a Super Bowl win only to be wrong in each case, mark me down as not really giving a rat's ass what you think about the matter.

fansince'76

08-24-2009, 11:14 AM

Ignore feature: Use it!

Believe me, if I wasn't a mod, I would, and there would be a slew of people on my list.